Many walls at the Grub Farmhouse are finished with Natural plasters and paints. These types of finishes have been used for thousands of years to protect and to beautify walls in large part because their components (sand, clay (or lime) and fiber) are readily available in many parts of the world and take little preparation or processing. For the Earthen Interior we used clay dug from onsite with other local ingredients, mixed by foot and hand applied by a 20 person mud smearing work party. One of the many ecological aspects of these finishes is that they are “breathable”, meaning that they are able to absorb, release and regulate moisture. While they can be used on a variety of surfaces, they are natural, local, low energy, non-toxic and biodegradable.

We used FasWall at the Farmhouse. This 85% recycled woodchip and cement composite helps create a permeable or “breathable wall” that regulates moisture constantly and will dry itself if wet. This prevents mold issues among other design advantages including ultimate longevity when many walls, over their lives, experience a major water event and moisture problems.

We will explore some of the materials, recipes and systems involved while discussing advantages and applications.